158. Twice conquered

28-10-1944

Kapelerf, Dorst, Holandia

158. Twice conquered

In October 1944, the fighting in and around the village of Dorst is so fierce the Poles of the 1st Polish Armoured Division are forced to liberate it twice. A rain of artillery shells lands on Dorst and in the streets firefights break out, as several eyewitnesses recall.

On the 28th of October 1944, the Dragon battle group from the 1st Polish Armoured Division liberated the village of Dorst. After an earlier artillery barrage, at eight o'clock in the evening the Poles surprised the Germans in Dorst who were still preparing their evening meal.

But it wasn’t over yet. The next morning, supported by artillery, German troops, launched a counter attack and fighting broke out in in four different places in the village. The alarm was raised at Polish headquarters. They realised the planned liberation of Breda was at risk. Sherman tanks were immediately sent to Dorst.

After a fierce battle, in which both sides suffered losses, Polish tanks took out the German artillery and Dorst was liberated for the second time.